Robin Flies South...

A blog about decorating and tablescaping with an emphasis on creativity and smart shopping over cash!

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Soup Served in Style!

"Do you have a kinder, more adaptable friend in the food world than soup? Who soothes you when you are ill? Who refuses to leave you when you are impoverished and stretches its resources to give a hearty sustenance and cheer? Who warms you in the winter and cools you in the summer? Yet who also is capable of doing honor to your richest table and impressing your most demanding guests? Soup does its loyal best, no matter what undignified conditions are imposed upon it. You don't catch steak hanging around when you're poor and sick, do you?"Judith Martin (Miss Manners)

Today I'm all about soup!  Never mind that it's sunny and in the mid-80's, I'm still in a soup mood.  Not only is soup great eating but you can serve it in one of my favorite things...a soup tureen!  I think tureens have to be one of the most beautiful containers there is.  Unfortunately, I only own one and it cost $4 at a thrift shop but that doesn't stop me from dreaming.  It didn't come with it's ladle (they are usually pretty fragile) but I like it just the same..



When we were back home in NJ this fall I brought (dragged) my husband to Winterthur in Delaware.  For those of you who aren't familiar with Winterthur here is a short description:

Almost 60 years ago, collector and horticulturist Henry Francis du Pont
(1880–1969) opened his childhood home, Winterthur, to the public. Today, Winterthur (pronounced “winter-tour”) is the premier museum of American decorative arts, with an unparalleled collection of nearly 90,000 objects made or used in America between about 1640 and 1860. The collection is displayed in the magnificent 175-room house, much as it was when the du Pont family lived here, as well as in permanent and changing exhibition galleries.
Winterthur is set amidst a 1,000-acre preserve of rolling meadows and woodlands. Designed by du Pont, its 60-acre naturalistic garden is among America’s best, with magnificent specimen plantings and massed displays of color. Graduate programs and a preeminent research library make Winterthur an important center for the study of American art and culture.


The day we went was chilly(especially when you're used to Florida weather) with a little bit of snow on the ground.  We decided to eat lunch at the cafeteria style restaurant before going on our tour. I chose to have a wonderful bowl of mushroom soup although I had no idea how much more I would be thinking about soup that day!






Later we discovered there was a special exhibit of the Campbell Collection of Soup Tureens.   I was thrilled, my husband not so much! With my husband timing me with his stopwatch (not really) I took as many pictures as I could to share with you
 
Here they are. I found them to be fascinating and all so different.

 I hope you enjoy all the flourishes, finials and feet (that's soup tureen talk!).
 













In honor of the Soup Tureen collection I set my up my breakfast bar for a Soup dinner.










Placemats-Ross
Chargers-Kirkland's
Dinner Plate-Old Time Pottery
Salad Plate-Ross
Soup crocks-Set of 4 from Goodwill
Napkins-Brown, Ross, Print, Goodwill
Napkin Rings-Goodwill
Silverware-Was my Mother's
Water Goblets-Pier One


I seemed to have gone from one extreme to the other with the very fancy, ornate soup tureens that are worthy of a museum exhibit to my thrift store soup tureen and the accompanying tablescape.  I guess it just proves that soup is for everyone! 

I am joining Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.

Also be sure to visit my sister's blog at Creating Wonderful Spaces for a little touch of Spring!

You can read more about the Campbell Collection of Soup tureens HERE.  Also, if you find yourself anywhere near Winterthur I highly recommend visiting. 





















10 comments:

Elaine said...

Those are some very fancy tureens! I think the one with the little girl is my favorite. I almost bought a soup tureen the other day at GW. Very similar to yours and even the same price. Those soup bowls are so cute! And I love the chargers, too. Glad to see there are still soup days, even in Florida!

Marigene said...

I agree, soup is for everyone and everyone should have at least 1 white tureen...this coming from someone with 8 white and 8 patterned one!
Love your soup crocks, Robin.

Anna said...

I will have to make a trip to Winterthur. Would be a great to make weekend trip. Some of those tureens are gorgeous. You have also made me quite hungry (it is lunch time) for good mushroom soup. Meals always taste so much better when served at a pretty table.

Denise Marie said...

Terrific post! Ahh, soup toureens.

Dreamgoddess said...

Robin, thanks so much for visiting my blog! You asked about the pink chargers...well, they were a cheap pack of gold chargers that I bought a couple of years ago at Walmart during their after Christmas sale. I just spray painted them pink.

Your setting is so pretty and I love the soup mugs. I need a set of those! My family loves soup, so these would be great to have.

Unknown said...

I'm glad I'm not the only one making lots of soup! The tureens are beautiful! I have only one too! I was going to buy another one I saw, but I don't use the one I have, since there are only two of us. Great post!
Blessings My Friend,

xinex said...

What a treat to see all those gorgeous ornate tureen. Thanks, Robin. Your soup setting is also very pretty though a lot more simple but practical. Thanks fpor stopping by. Unfortunately, my sister lives in St. Louis and we live in MS so we are not that close to each other. She will be alone in her house but fortunately she has friends who are always willing to keep her company in this difficult time. I invited her to move here but she wants to work until the end of the year and then decide. Have a nice weekend!..Christine

xinex said...

What a treat to see all those gorgeous ornate tureen. Thanks, Robin. Your soup setting is also very pretty though a lot more simple but practical. Thanks fpor stopping by. Unfortunately, my sister lives in St. Louis and we live in MS so we are not that close to each other. She will be alone in her house but fortunately she has friends who are always willing to keep her company in this difficult time. I invited her to move here but she wants to work until the end of the year and then decide. Have a nice weekend!..Christine

Pat@Life At Lydias House said...

What wonderful tureens! I have Winterthur on my list of places to visit someday! Your soup setting looks very inviting! Thanks for your kind comments.

Rettabug said...

Robin, thank you so much for the tour of Winterthur & their tureens...just beautiful!

You can pick up a generic, white ladle at Sur La Table...it should work for your pretty new SCORE!!!!!

fondly,
Rett

p.s. We just finished having soup for supper tonight.